Cotonou port and city is the de facto capital of
Benin (formerly Dahomey), situated along the Gulf of Guinea. It is the starting
point of the so-called Benin-Niger Railway, which extends 273 miles (439 km)
into the interior but ends in the middle of Benin at Parakou. Goods can be
moved another 200 miles (322 km) by road to the navigable Niger River. Cotonou
is the economic hub of Benin and is the nation's largest urban centre. Its
industries include brewing, textile production, and palm-oil processing.
Modern artificial deepwater port facilities were completed in 1965 at Cotonou
to serve both Benin and Togo.
The port of Cotonou is a deep water port mainly used for the imports of cereals
and gypsum used in the construction and agricultural industries. Cotton and
kapok are the main exports.
During 1989-1991 the port was upgraded under a rehabilitation
scheme costing nearly 2.5 billion CFA.
Today the port zone covers 400,000m2. It has 8 berthing stations
divided into 4 berths of 155m for conventional vessels, 2 classical berths
of 180m for conventional vessels and 1 berth of 220m for container vessels
and 1 berth at the end of the commercial quay to take roll on, roll off vessel.
Cotonou port offers both bonded and unbondedwarehousing: Bonded: Covering an area of 57,000m2 with a container depot of 65,000
m2 and a free zone reserved for Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
Unbonded:Numerous warehouses and store yards.
Draft at Berth
10m
Draft at Harbour Mouth
12m
No of Deepwater Quays
1 quay, berths no 1-4
Length of Quay
220m for container vessels
Click here to view our
local agent,
SAGA's access and infrastructural review on Cotonou port.
The implementation of the ISPS code came into effect on the 1st
July 2004, a global maritime security standard introduced by the International
Maritime Organisation (IMO) for member nations.
Below are the details of the Benin port plans for 2004
Port facility security plans are being put in place.
Higher cement walls (0.4m) have been added.
Strict control at gates has been enforced, with watchman and patrols in use.
Floodlighting at the quayside and waterside is in place.
All workers must have ID cards.
The port facility security officer can be contacted 24hrs a day.
OTAL has a dedicated terminal terminal offers a full range of
shore handling services exclusive to OTAL customers and which is managed by
our agency office,
Saga Benin.
OTAL has full control over shore operations, offering a complete portfolio
of services. Benefits available to importers include positioning of containers
in less than one hour after presentation of unstuffing authorisation. Transit
of cargo is therefore accelerated, allowing the importer to honour consignee
deadlines and further develop trade activities in the region.
OTALs Container Facility - Facts & Figures
Terminal incorporates 7,000m² of quay space, allowing containers to
be stacked in consignee order.
Two forklift trucks - a 50 tonne Svetruck and a 15 tonne Kalmar model -
dedicated to the shore handling of OTAL units.
Full security fencing around the entire terminal with access limited to
one entry point. Security is of extremely importance in Cotonou as 90% of
containers are unstuffed on quay.
The terminal employs its own personnel including tallymen and drivers.
The terminal is operational between 0700 hours and 2300 hours
on weekdays and between 0800 hours and 1200 hours on Saturdays.
Future developments at the terminal include a dedicated shore handling
invoice facility, which is currently being completed.
Cotonou is the major transit port for Nigeria, Niger, Burkina
and Togo and has a strong import market with high demand for a wide range of
commodities
including petroleum products, foodstuffs and light consumer goods. The region
also produces a number of agricultural products for export markets including
cotton, cashew and shea nuts.
For further information on OTAL's inland service from Cotonou, please click
here.
Transport
News
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Dredging At Cotonou Port
The port of Cotonou has been undergoing dredging works since 10/11/07 by Danish
company BOS KALIS. The works are focusing on the entrance of the port which
was completely obstructed by sand leaving only 30 meters of navigable water.
They will also dredge the quays to a draft of approximately 11m. We understand
that the dredging work will continue until 20/12/07. [Local agent 03/12/07]
Cotonou Port: Non Manifested Cargoes
Please note that the Benin Customs have warned shipping lines and importers
regarding non manifested cargoes. Effective from 1st January 2008, all cargo
[including those shipped inside vehicles] must be manifested. Non compliance
will mean shipping lines will be obliged to load goods back to origin at
cost and to pay heavy penalties. [28/11/07]
Bolloré Starts Negotiations To Manage Port In
Cotonou
France's Bolloré group has begun negotiations with authorities in the
port of Cotonou, with a view to taking over the management of port, according
to Benin's transport minister Armand Zinzindohoue. Head of State, Thomas Yayi
Boni, met Michel Roussin, vice-president of the French group during a meeting
about imminent investment by the Bolloré group.
The port is currently managed by the Beninese government. Bolloré's
activities in the port will begin with maintenance, creation and management
of dry docks. According to local reports the group's investment could exceed
Euro 30 million. [Thomson Financial News 01/11/07]
ECOWAS Bank Supports Road Infrastructure In Benin
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has granted a loan of
CFA 5.5 billion to Benin for the partial funding of a 228km road the road
linking Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria. The money, which represents 10%
of the cost of the project estimated at CFA 57.4 billion, would help to link
the three biggest cities in the northern part of Benin, Kérémou-Kandi-Banikoara-Ségnana,
all of them cotton, maize and groundnut producing areas. [Afriquenligne 10/10/07]
ECOWAS Bank Supports Road Infrastructure In Benin
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has granted a loan of
CFA 5.5 billion to Benin for the partial funding of a 228km road the road
linking Burkina Faso, Benin and Nigeria. The money, which represents 10%
of the cost of the project estimated at CFA 57.4 billion, would help to link
the three biggest cities in the northern part of Benin, Kérémou-Kandi-Banikoara-Ségnana,
all of them cotton, maize and groundnut producing areas. [Afriquenligne 10/10/07]
ISPS - Cotonou Port Meets Safety Standards
Cotonou port meets the minimum international requirements for port facilities
and safety according to a US audit. The US Coast Guard monitoring mission
evaluation stated that the autonomous port meets minimal requirements of
the international code of safety for boats and port facilities [ISPS].
Cotonou has avoided being downgraded and classified among ports to which
it is inadvisable
and dangerous to frequent. The Benin authorities have included reinforcing
control of access to the port facilities, setting up radio and communications
facilities for security guards, lighting up the marine shoreline of the
port and training the port’s staff in mastering the ISPS code. [APA
23/08/07]
Cotonou Port Draft
Following a study made in Cotonou port the official maximum draft is 9m [high
tide/daylight berthing] as from 24th September 2007. Max LOA: 200m / Beam:50m
[SAGA 03/09/07]
Vietnam’s Exports To Benin On Sharp Increase
Vietnam earned a total of US$7.76 million from exports to Benin in the first
six months of this year, a sharp increase compared to the figure of US$6.1
million for 2006, according to Vietnamese Trade Office. Garments and textiles
products are the key export items with export turnover in the first half
of this year reaching over US$5.2 million, followed by tobacco, over US$2.2
million. Other export items include wood and wooden products, plastic products,
footwear and bags, among others. During the period, Vietnam also imported
US$2.67 million worth of products from Benin, higher than the figure of US$2.2
million of import turnover for the whole year last year. [Nhan Dan 20/08/07]
Cotonou Port Receives Liebherr Cranes
Two Liebherr LHM 500 cranes [www.liebherr.com] have been delivered to Cotonou
port. These cranes are exclusively for Danish Stevedores COMAN SA. The cranes
have a maximum lifting capacity of 140 tonnes [depending on winch configuration]
and 51 m max. radius.
Benin's Territory Expands After ICJ-Ordered Border Adjustment
A symbolic ceremony took place marking Benin's territory in line with a 2005
decision of the International Court of Justice [ICJ] at the Hague. The court,
in its ruling on border disputes in the Niger river valley between the Benin
and Niger, granted Benin 9 islands and Niger 16 islands. [PANA 14/08/07]
Benin President Wins Elections
Benin President Thomas Boni Yayi's coalition has won control of parliament
in the West African cotton-producing country, according to election results
announced by the Constitutional Court. Yayi, a former development banker
elected a year ago, has said wresting control of parliament from Benin's
traditional elite is key to pushing through anti-corruption reforms which
he claims prompted an assassination bid last month.
Yayi's Cowrie Forces for an Emerging Benin [FCBE] won 35 of the 83 seats in
parliament in the March 31 polls and can control the assembly with its smaller
allies. The rival Alliance for a Dynamic Democracy [ADD] won 20 seats.[Reuters
08/04/07]
Benin To Boost Bilateral Cooperation
Benin and the Republic of Congo has agreed on the key issues which will form
the basis for re-energized bilateral cooperation by establishing new fields
for enhanced cooperation in agriculture, finance and trade. The meeting
which led to the signing of new agreements and the establishment of a two-year
cooperation program covering 2007 to 2009 also enabled the two countries
to explore ways and means of giving new impetus to their bilateral ties.
Benin and the Republic of Congo are linked by the 1978 agreements which
established
the joint commission. [Xinhua 25/03/07]
IMF Mission On The Second Review Under Benin's PRGF
An IMF mission visited Benin during 21/02-07/03 to conduct the second review
under Benin's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility [PRGF] Arrangement. The
mission met President Boni Yayi, the Minister of Development, Economy and
Finance, Mr. Pascal Koupaki, his deputy, Mr. Albert Houngbo, Mr. Marcel A.
de Souza, the National Director for the Central bank [BCEAO], and other senior
officials of the government.
The mission noted that macroeconomic developments were broadly favourable
in 2006, although economic growth was less buoyant than anticipated under the
program, owing to lower-than-expected cotton output and heightened energy shortages.
Reflecting a good food harvest, average inflation eased off, notwithstanding
continuing pressures on oil prices. Moreover, against a background of enhanced
discipline in spending policy, the budgetary situation improved as revenue
recovered in response to strong governance measures by the new administration.
Reflecting these developments, all program quantitative performance criteria
and indicative targets at end-December 2006 were observed. In the structural
area, the authorities took steps to revive their stalled reform agenda for
the key sectors of cotton, telecommunications, and electricity. However, limited
progress was achieved in the port area where implementation of consolidated
electronic billing of port services, an end-December 2006 structural performance
criterion, was not effected. By and large, Benin's PRGF-supported program was
maintained on track. [IMF 08/03/07]
Nigeria Re-Demarcating Border With Benin - 03/03/07
As part of efforts to avoid a repeat of its experience on border issues with
Cameroon, Nigeria has started the re-demarcation of its borderline with Benin.
Apart from their maritime boundary, Nigeria and Benin share a 770km land
boundary. Director-General of the Nigerian National Boundary Commission,
Sadiq Diggi, said that the new boundary demarcation would clearly define
the territorial limits of the two nations and ensure an enduring peace in
the border communities.
Cameroon, Nigeria's neighbour to the east, took Nigeria
to the International Court of Justice at The Hague over a dispute between
the two countries on the
ownership of the oil-rich Bakassi peninsula lying at the maritime border
between them. Cameroon won the suit in October 2002 when the court ordered
Nigeria
to cede the peninsula to it. Nigeria eventually ceded the peninsula to Cameroon
in 2006 after four years of diplomatic wrangling. [Deutsche Presse-Agentur
0/02/07]
Benin/USA Business Forum - 03/03/07
Business Forum Benin/USA, a forum sponsored by the US Embassy/Cotonou, WATH
and Benin's Chamber of Commerce and Industry, fostered discussions about
obstacles and solutions to trade between the US and Benin. The January 25-26
forum spurred discussion among 125 public and private-sector participants
about several issues: high costs of production, difficulties in accessing
finance, lack of information on U.S. market standards and norms, foreign
investors’ frustration with the complexity of administrative processes
in Benin and the need to collectively build capacity per sector to reach
foreign markets. WATH is developing an action plan to help both public and
private sectors address these issues. [08/02/07 This article originally appeared
in the WATH Factor, a monthly newsletter published by the West Africa Trade
Hub, a USAID-funded project promoting export development and trade facilitation.
www.watradehub.com]
Conakry Port Extension – Tenders Launched -
12/12/06
The Ministère des Travaux Publics et des Transports and the Port Autonome
de Conakry [Conakry Port Authorities] have launched the tender for the extension
of the Conakry Container Terminal [CTS]. Works are expected to start by July
2007.
Tanene Bridge Repaired
According to the government the Tanene Bridge which links Conakry to the
cities of Boke and Fria has been repaired. This will aid movement of mining
products
as Boke and Fria are big mining centers. two Two of the world's leading
producers of aluminium are based here: Alcoa [Boke] and Rusal [Fria]. [OTAL
Agent 12/12/06]
President Bush to Welcome President Boni Yayi -
07/12/06
President Bush will welcome President Boni Yayi of Benin to the White House
on 14/12/06. The Presidents will discuss maritime security in the Gulf of
Guinea, along with Benin's role in regional security, peacekeeping, and promoting
democracy. The two leaders will also discuss Benin's successes in implementing
economic reform and attracting outside investment. In February 2006, Benin
signed a compact worth US$307 million with the Millennium Challenge Corporation,
designed to enhance private sector activity. [White House Press Statement
07/12/06]
State Petrol Chaos Slows Down Port Activity - 22/06/06
Decisions are being taken at state level by the new government. The manager
of Continentale des Pétroles et des Investissements [CPI] has been
jailed.
CPI is the majority owner of SONACOP [Société Nationale
de Commercialisation des Produits Pétroliers] whose coffers are empty
and who have been unable to sufficiently supply the market for years which
has often crippled the country, and in particular the port sector with recurrent
stock disruptions.
New Manager At Cotonou Port Pledges Competitiveness -
08/09/06
On 31/07/06, Christophe Aguessy replaced Mr Lazare Gnonlonfoun as the new Director
of the Port of Cotonou following a ministerial decree. Mr Aguessy is a banker
from the West African Bank of Development [BOAD]. Mr Aguessy has a mammoth
task ahead but is determined to develop the port infrastructure and react
to decisions taken after consultation of the port industry’s stakeholders
Cotonou Port Customs Add Tax/Escort Charge On Aged Transit
Vehicles - 22/08/06
Under new Custom reforms a payment of 81,000 FCFA will be imposed on any aged
vehicle in transit via the Port of Cotonou to the hinterland. Local meetings
with the Customs authorities are underway but as yet have not resolved this
situation. [SAGA Benin 21/08/06]
Creation Of A Joint Commission Benin-Nigeria -28/09/06
The economic relations between Benin and Nigeria are rated a priority under
the policy to boost the Benin economy. Soon a high level joint commission
for cooperation between the two countries will be established to enhance
this.
The Joint Gabon-Benin Commission -25/09/06
The third session of the economic cooperation commission for Gabon and Benin
will be held before the end of the year in Libreville, after the 24-hour
visit of the president of Benin Thomas Yayi Boni to Gabon
FG Moves to Repair Benin-Ore Road -05/10/06
The Federal Government has begun repairs to federal roads which have deteriorated
as a result of recent torrential rain. According to Works Minister, Chief
Cornelius Adebayo they include Benin-Ore and Onitsha-Enugu roads. He said
directors in the Ministry and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency [FERMA]
had been directed to identify all roads in need of similar intervention.
[25/09/06]
